Scientists Say Cats Should Stay On Leashes Outdoors; EU Hisses, Thrashes

NPR | By Rachel Martin,

Rachel Martin

Published November 29, 2019 at 5:00 AM EST

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Rachel Martin. Scientists wrote in Oxford's Journal of Environmental Law that domestic cats should be kept on a leash or inside in order to limit their impact on biodiversity. But then the European Union weighed in. They said they strongly defend free movement rights, including those of our four-legged friends. In fact, the EU categorically denied it would ever limit feline freedom. Getting people to agree on things - it's just like herding cats. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Rachel Martin

Prior to moving into the host position in the fall of 2012, Martin started as National Security Correspondent for NPR in May 2010. In that position she covered both defense and intelligence issues. She traveled regularly to Iraq and Afghanistan with the Secretary of Defense, reporting on the US wars and the effectiveness of the Pentagon's counterinsurgency strategy. Martin also reported extensively on the changing demographic of the US military – from the debate over whether to allow women to fight in combat units – to the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Her reporting on how the military is changing also took her to a US Air Force base in New Mexico where the military for a rare look at how the military trains drone pilots.

See stories by Rachel Martin

Rachel Martin

Rachel Martin is the host of Wild Card.